Instructions
Preparing for the Change
Ask your horse to lope, ensuring that he has a three-beat lope. Loping with four beats will mean the horse doesn't have enough power, and his legs will be inappropriately positioned, for a lead change.
Gain contact with your horse through the reins. Reaching your hand forward an inch should make the horse lengthen forward, while moving your hand back should collect the horse.
Apply the rein, of the opposite side to the current lead, to the horse's neck. Do this by moving your reining hand to the other side. For example, if you are on the left lead, adjust the position of your right hand. This shifts the horse's weight to the opposing side.
Exert pressure with the opposite leg to the lead side, simultaneously with your hand movement. For example, this would be the right leg when on the left lead. Your hip that corresponds to the horse's lead will be farther forward.
Changing Lead
Keep contact with the reins, holding a slight neck rein on the side of the change. This allows the shoulder to change lead more easily.
Loosen the grip of your leg on the current lead. For example, if you are changing from left to right, release the tension of the right leg that is keeping the horse to the left. Move your other seat bone forward.
Exert pressure from the opposite side to the new lead, as if you were asking the horse to begin a lope. Do this at the same time as the instructions in step 2.
How to Make a Horse Change Legs
Any type of horse training needs to be through a series of consistent and continuous lessons. Before succeeding in lead leg changes, the horse needs to be regularly loping on the correct lead, and be able to start on the correct lead from any pace, including halt. The rider must use aids, including seat, legs, upper body, hands and mind, to communicate with the horse. Conveying a lead change is the same when riding on a straight line as on a circle. In both, the horse's body must be straight at all times: before, during and after the change.